Label pack



K. D. BIXLER Sept. 27, 1966 LABEL PACK Filed July 17, 1964 ATTORNEYUnited States Patent 3,275,134 LABEL PACK Kenneth D. Bixler, Huntington,N.Y., assignor to Diarnond International Corporation, New York, N.Y., a

corporation of Delaware Filed July 17, 1964, Ser. No. 383,403 8 Claims.(Cl. 206-65) The present invention relates to label packs and moreparticularly to packages comprising end to end containers held togetherby a single label which may be easily parted for separating thecontainers.

Until the present time multi-unit packs have been provided 'by utilizinga paperboard carrier in which a plurality of bottles or cans isassembled. Cans have also been assembled into a multi-pack by sealingthe cans end to end with an adhesive strip. Such prior art multi-packshave the disadvantages of increasing the cost of packaging due to thenecessity of utilizing extra material (eg, adhesive tapes and/orpaperboard carriers) and additional packaging steps.

It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a novellabel pack which obviates the aforementioned disadvantages of themulti-unit packs of the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an economicalmethod of combining two or more cans into a multiple unit pack fromwhich pack the individual unit cans can be easily separated for use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a label packand method which are simple and economical and which utilizeconventional high speed labeling equipment with minimum machinemodification.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a label packhaving superior display properties over other -multi-packaging systems.7

It is another object of the present invention to provide a neat, tightfitting label around chimed can type of containers which label unitessuch chimed cans in end to end relationship. 7

It is another object of the present invention to provide labels havingnovel structure utilized for uniting containers in end to endrelationship.

These and other objects and the nature and advantages of the inventionwill be apparent from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one modification of a label of the presentinvention; 7

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of another embodiment of the label ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a die cut disc utilized in certainembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic step assembly of applying a label ofthe present invention to produce a package of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the method of assembly to doublechimed cans;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a completed package according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the application of a label of FIG.1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the application of another labelembodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a stack of labels such as utilized inFIG. 8.

In accordance with the present invention labels may be applied tostacked cans in a manner similar to the methods for applying labels tosingle cans. Noting FIG. 4, for example, two drawn aluminum cans 10 and12 each having one chime 14 and 16, respectively, are nested as shownand conveyed in an upright position past a water ice spraying device 18.As cans 10 and 12 are contacted by water, a label 20 having adhesive atboth ends 21-22 is removed from a label stack 24 and forced into contactwith the end to end cans 10-12. The assembled label pack is thenconveyed past a heating and/or drying element 26 where all water isevaporated from the web label 20 and the adhesive 21-22 is activated orset. Alternatively, the water spraying device 18 and the drying element26 may be disposed with if a contact or pressure sensitive adhesive isused; similarly, if the cans are hot or if means for heating the labelsor cans are provided, a heat sensitive adhesive may be used in place ofthe water soluble adhesive.

In lieu of upright labeling equipment such as that schematicallyillustrated, a conventional horizontal type labeling equipment can beutilized. In order to insure proper nesting of one can on top of theother a series of confining bars (not shown) may be utilized. Forhorizontal operation the cans can be confined from the ends and rolledinto contact with the label stack.

Drawn aluminum cans 10 and 12 provide no nesting problem since they nestnaturally together each having only one chime 14 and 16 respectively.Double chimed cans 28 and 30, on the other hand, (FIG. 5) may requirethe insertion of a die cut stay element 32 which may be formed ofpaperboard and which nests cans 28 and 30 in proper relationship. Ifdesired the die cut stay 32 may contain printed matter :such asdirections, advertisements or recipes.

Label 20, shown in detail in FIG. 1, is a paper strip preferably havinga rectangular shape as shown. Running the length of label 20 and in theintended plane of the contacting cans the label 20 is provided with aweakened portion 34. In the embodiment in FIG. 1 the weakened portion 34comprises a series of cutout sections 36 which are defined by contactlabel webs 38 and cutout edges 37 and 39. The contact label webs 38 maybe considered connections between label section 40, the label for can10, and label section 42, the label for can 12.

The FIG. 2 embodiment is similar to the label 20 of FIG. 1 except thatthe cutout portions 36' are rectangular and the cutout edges 37-39' areextended as shown at 44 and 46. In another label embodiment shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, the label 20" has two halves 40" and 42" connected bycontact label webs 38". As opposed to the other two embodiments, thesecontact label webs 38" abut each other and are defined by diagonalslashes 48 therebetween. In each embodiment, however, the clearance cut50 is provided at either and preferably both ends of the label.

During application of the label the stacked cans 10-12 contact the labelstack 24 and the edge of the clearance cut 50 clears the chime 16 at thepack center and allows adhesive 22 to contact the can body to provide afirm label contact on each can 10-12 by each label part 40-42,respectively. This is clearly illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. As the canpack continues rolling across the label stack 24, the label 20 rollsaround the can stack. When the label 20 starts around the can stack1012, the wetting applicator 18 contacts label 20 thus wetting contactlabel webs 38.

To facilitate the label wrapping tightly, the label 20 is held down atthe trailing end (near adhesive 21) while the can stack 1012 continuesto roll forward. As the label sustains tension against the cans, the wetareas (contact label webs 38) pull out over the can chimes while thelabel areas 40 and 42 lay tightly against the can bodies. Theapplication of the label is completed as the glue area 21 is rolled overand laps over the edge of the first deposited end of the label. Thelabeled can pack rolls past the heat source 26 which effects drying andshrinking of the web areas 38 thereby shrinking the pack Patented Sept.27, 1966 cans tightly together. The can chime 16 is new project-' ingoutwardly into the cutout portions 36 between edges 37-39 and pushingthe joining contact label webs 38 outwardly.

Separation of the unit into individual cans is accomplished by holdingthe bottom can stationary while twisting the top can clockwise. Easeofseparation along with shipping and handling strength can be adjustedby an increase or decrease in the relative number of holdingoontactlabel webs 38 with a corresponding change in the width of eachweb 38 and a change in relationship of webs 38 to the cutout portions 36between each web area 38. Strength can also be adjusted by a change inpaper. stock. Cuts 44 and 46 of the FIG. 2 embodiment also providesimplified separation. p a

The present structure permits full edge adhesion to each can as well asof one end of the label to the other end. The clearance cuts at thebeginning and end of each label permit the can chimes to fall into thecuts thus pe rmittingthe can body to contact. the entire glued labelsurface. This provides a neatly applied tight fitting label around thecans and thus the present package provides a'place for the larger chimediameter to fit when the label is snug on the lesser diameter of thebody portion. The

structure allows a maximum snugness of fit to each inside chime edgeinsuring a maximum hold on the can bodies against one another by thewebs over the chimes.

The hashed cut embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 will also expand for chimedifference diameter as described above. The cut 48 can be atsubstantially any angle as long as there is. a deviation from in lineperforations. Relative twisting of the cans will force diagonal cuts 48to open and cause the webs to tear. will not displace to compensate fordiameter differences, the angled line of cuts will displace outwardlygiving the advantages of fit and structure described above; FIG. 9 showssuch a label stack being squeezed in a feed hopper to preform webs 38"to conform to the shape of the chime.

The present invention permits end to end uniting of cans economically ona high speed conventional labeling lines requiring a minimum machinemodification. The present invention provides superior display over othermulti-packing systems, since thelabel is in one piece and the copydisplayed on the label is always consistent in direction due to thelabel orientation being consistent. The present label pack also provideseasy separation in its individual cans by way of a simple twist; at the.same time adequate strength to resist shipping and handling is provided.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various.

a second cylindrical container positioned end-to-end coaxially with saidfirst container and having generally the same peripheral length as saidfirst container, said second container having a chime at the end thereofadjacent said first container; and

While perforations in line a singlejcommon label adhesively aflixedto'said .containers to unite said containers in said end-to-end coaxialrelation, said label having (a) adhesive on two opposite edges thereof,

(b) a weakened portion of the plane of contact between said containersand intersecting said label portions having adhesive thereon, and.

(c) a clearance cutalong one of said adhesive coated edges at the end ofsaid weakened .portion, said chime extending through said clearance cutso that said chime extends beyond a plane tangent to said containersthrough said label portion having adhesive thereon.

2. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said containers aremetal. V

7 3. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein'said weakened; portionof said label comprises a series of cutout sections defining a line ofoblong holes extending .in .the direction of said weakened portion, eachsaid hole being separated from its adjacent hole by a narrow section oflabel.

4.1A package in accordance with claim 3 wherein said chime extendsbeyond a plane taken through said label tangent to said containersandthe portions of said .label along said weakened portion adjacent saidcutout sections wrap around said chime. 1

5.1A package inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said weakened portion ofsaid label comprises a series of.

diagonal cuts, each saidcut being separated .from its adjacent cut by adiagonally extending label web portion. 7 6. A package in accordancewith claim 5 wherein said chime extends beyond a plane taken throughsaid label tangent to said containers and the label webs along saidweakened portion wrap around said chime.

7. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said label .has aclearance cut along both adhesive coated edges.

8. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and secondcontainers both have a chime which between said cans and coaxiallypositioned therewithn References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,205,437 6/1940 Ringler 206-56 3,071,244 1/1963 Doran 2.0645.313,208,588 9/1965 Mosse et a1. 206- References Cited by theApplicantUNITED STATES PATENTS THERON, CONDON, PrimaryE xaminer.

W. T. DIXSON, Assistant Examiner.

1. A PACKAGE COMPRISING: A FIRST CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER; A SECONDCYLINDRICAL CONTAINER POSITIONED END-TO-END COAXIALLY WITH SAID FIRSTCONTAINER AND HAVING GENERALLY THE SAME PERIPHERAL LENGTH AS SAID FIRSTCONTAINER, SAID SECOND CONTAINER HAVING A CHIME AT THE END THEREOFADJACENT SAID FIRST CONTAINER; AND A SINGLE COMMON LABEL ADHESIVELYAFFIXED TO SAID CONTAINERS TO UNITE SAID CONTAINERS IN SAID END-TO-ENDCOAXIAL RELATION, SAID LABEL HAVING (A) ADHESIVE ON TWO OPPOSITE EDGESTHEREOF, (B) A WEAKENED PORTION OF THE PLANE OF CONTACT BETWEEN SAIDCONTAINERS AND INTERSECTING SAID LABEL PORTIONS HAVING ADHESIVE THEREON,AND (C) A CLEARANCE CUT ALONG ONE OF SAID ADHESIVE COATED EDGES AT THEEND OF SAID WEAKENED PORTION, SAID CHIME EXTENDING THROUGH SAIDCLEARANCE CUT SO THAT SAID CHIME EXTENDS BEYOND A PLANE TANGENT TO SAIDCONTAINERS THROUGH SAID LABEL PORTION HAVING ADHESIVE THEREON.